Back in the spring of 2008, my now ex-husband and I were presented with an amazing opportunity to move from Arkansas to Salt Lake City. I felt the Lord’s hand ALL over the details. Every single thing fell right into place. We nearly doubled our salaries, the house we JUST built sold relatively quickly, and a new job fell RIGHT into my lap.

As we were pondering the move out west, I got a call OUT OF THE BLUE from my CompassLearning rep. They were looking for an account executive in the Kansas City area and he thought I would be a perfect fit for the role IF I would be willing to move to Kansas City. When I explained we were nearly certain we were moving out to Salt Lake, he quickly said, “We’ll hire you and you can live in Salt Lake!” I literally about fell out of my chair. Here we were moving across the country and I had a job offer before I even left Arkansas! And before we had really even told our parents we were moving! At the time, I was an assistant principal in El Dorado and just assumed I would look for an administrator job in Utah, continuing along the path of school leadership. Never did I dream of leaving public education and going to work for a software company! But the offer was too good and since I had been a CompassLearning customer for the 7 years prior, it was a perfect fit! I was already familiar with the organization and a lot of the field based team. So I jumped.

The way everything fell right into place was completely unbelievable and obviously had God’s hand all over it. I don’t remember being scared in the least but only crazy excited about the new adventure in front of us. We could snow ski every weekend for cryin’ out loud!!!!

Little did I know that in 6 short months after the move to Salt Lake City, the beginnings of an affair started the unraveling of my marriage.

Along with my new job, came weekly airplane travel. It was incredibly exhilarating and I thrived in my new sales role. Each Monday morning (sometimes Sunday evening), I would hop on a plane over to Denver (sometimes Casper, Gillette, or Cody, WY or Oklahoma or Arkansas or wherever I was working that week) and return home Friday evening. It wasn’t the ideal situation (for a marriage) but we had a massive mortgage and you have work your fanny off to keep up with the Joneses, yes? So it was worth it, right?

On July 5th, 2009 my world came to a screeching halt when my ex-husband shared some news that rocked me to core. News I never saw coming. News that was supposed to happen to OTHER people! Not ME! News that would take me into a pit so deep, I begged God to take my life. I couldn’t see a way out. My storybook life, my ‘perfect’ world, had just become my worst nightmare.

I cursed Utah. I cursed leaving Arkansas. I even cursed God.

Why Lord, WHY? You SAW this would happen and yet you let EVERY DETAIL fall into place for this move?!? You increased our income exponentially and gave me a new job I love! I don’t understand!!! God, you KNOW I won’t survive this. God, if you had NEVER allowed us to move to Utah, I would still have my marriage. This wouldn’t be happening!!! I just want my life back!!

It was OBVIOUSLY a BIG MISTAKE to have moved to Utah.

The next few months were a blur. THANK JESUS I had a job where I didn’t have to “report” to an office or a classroom each day at 8 am. I remember working from home for about 2 weeks. I remember spending HOURS on my face, FLAT on the floor, crying out to God. I repeated the conversation above with Him OVER and OVER and OVER. Why God, why??? You could have prevented this!

Life shifts us into OUR Plan B, when it was God’s Plan A all along.Click To Tweet

You know, it’s funny… Life shifts us into OUR Plan B, when it was God’s Plan A all along. Of course, He didn’t create the circumstances surrounding the failure of my marriage, but He was already holding my heart on my wedding day because He KNEW what I would face 12 years down the road. He was divinely placing people and circumstances in my path all along those years to prepare me for this very moment.

Take my friend, Lori who I met in a bible study in 2002… She had walked the SAME path I was forced to now walk. I NEVER dreamed in 2002 I would need to reach out to her for DAILY sustenance and spiritual guidance just to simply function. When I cried to her and told her how I wished we had NEVER moved to Utah, her response was priceless. She said, “Sara, it didn’t matter if you were in Utah or Arkansas. If there was evil in his heart, it would have manifested no matter where you lived.” And then suddenly, I began to realize it wasn’t Utah’s fault I was in this boat. It just happened to be the location where Satan chose to drop a proverbial bomb on my marriage.

Then, I would blame myself. I should NEVER have taken a job that forced me to be away from home on a weekly basis. If I would have been present, this NEVER would have happened. But THEN, I started to understand…God provided me with my amazing job at precisely the right time because He SAW what was coming. He wanted me to be able to fully provide for myself and also enjoy my work. He hooked me up because He KNEW!

I could just cry as I type this. Who am I that He is mindful of ME? He loves me SO much that he started preparing me YEARS in advance for the greatest trial of my life.

Over 7 years down the road from that fateful day, I continue to marvel at the goodness of God. He truly has paid me back double for my trouble in EVERY WAY POSSIBLE (just as He did for Job).

My friend Lori told me about the book Wrecked by Jeff Goins. I read it and it changed my life. I followed Jeff on Twitter and ended up in Guatemala with him and 20 other strangers and fell in love with a country and a people who desperately need the hope of Jesus. I just returned from my fifth Guatemala trip and would go MORE if my schedule allowed. I have friends there that are family and I love them with every ounce of my being. I have a precious sponsor daughter I get to SEE and HOLD every year and bathe her with the promises of Jesus for her future. Random or divine? If I wouldn’t have moved to Utah, this never would have happened…

On that first trip, I made THE most amazing, lifelong friends. Friends I could call and they would get on an airplane with a moment’s notice and fly to wherever I needed them. Friends that encourage me and love me right where I am.

My career has continued to grow and thrive and I LOVE what I do SO SO much! The Lord began preparing me around age 6 when I was determined to be a teacher. (I basically turned my grandmother’s spare bedroom into a full classroom complete with chalkboard, gradebook, bulletin boards and a teacher’s desk. I played school EVERY afternoon once I got off the bus.) I still travel weekly and I can’t imagine doing anything else! I’m so in love with my company, my customers and the large number of students I get to serve EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I often have to pinch myself because I can’t believe this is my life! Random or divine? If I wouldn’t have moved to Utah, this never would have happened…

I’m not the same person I was in 2009. I was a “things girl” back then, and REALLY loved to keep up with the Joneses. No one knew of the struggle in my marriage for nearly two years because I was afraid of admitting my life wasn’t a fairy tale (because that’s what everyone thought). I SO LOVE the person I am now (boasting ONLY in Christ for His mercy and grace). The Joneses? Furthest thing from my thoughts. What you see is what you get. No desire to please anyone other than my Father. And honestly yes, my life is pretty awesome right now. The Lord is fulfilling some crazy, awesome dreams (one He placed on my heart in 4th grade) and is TOTALLY making good on ALL of His promises. I am more content than EVER before in my life. Random or divine? If I wouldn’t have moved to Utah, this never would have happened…

So moving to Utah? IT WAS THE BEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO ME! It took YEARS for me to see things from this perspective. It took buckets of tears, hours upon hours of prayer, hundreds of books read, counseling sessions, a life coach and a LOT of hard work. By the grace of God, I have conquered the greatest ‘mistake’ of my life and have watched it yield the greatest blessings imaginable. My pain has been redeemed. I am filled with abundant joy like I’ve never known. And I’m grateful on top of grateful for every single thing above zero. He who holds my heart sustaineth me.

From the bottom of my heart, Utah…thank you.

If you are walking through a trial, please be encouraged and know the Lord is already there! He’s not surprised or caught off guard. He SAW everything you would walk through and is equipping you for victory! Take a moment to reflect on your life. What opportunities or connections has the Lord placed in your path for THIS moment in time? Are you grabbing ahold of them? Don’t miss a blessing because you are focused on a mistake. I’d love to hear YOUR story of how a mistake turned into a blessing OR how you STILL struggle with a mistake. If you feel led, please share in the comments below.

A little over a week ago, I made the choice to leave the comfortable and familiar, for a new adventure in a familiar area, yet uncomfortable new surroundings (very different from the environments I’ve resided in for the last 15 years). I cried as I closed my garage door one final time. It was excruciating to leave the comfortable and familiar, even when I knew the Lord’s hand was all over it.

In 2010, Corpus Christi became home. (I can hardly believe that was SIX years ago!) What’s interesting is that Corpus Christi came around TWICE as I was looking to leave Salt Lake City. The first time, the opportunity wasn’t ideal. Yet just a few short weeks later, another completely different, unrelated opportunity presented. Could it be God was giving me a DIRECT sign I was to move to Corpus Christi, Texas? I was fed up with the cold, the 6 months of snow covered ground, and icy road drivin’, so sunny, warm and beachy sounded PERFECT to me. It was an unfamiliar city. I knew NO ONE there. But the Lord knew EXACTLY what He was doing when He placed me in a community whose name means “body of Christ.” I was beginning a new season, alone, and Corpus Christi was the EXACT place the Lord would usher in healing and redemption.

As I sit on my couch in Louisiana, typing this post, my heart is full as I am near my family, but SO homesick for a place divinely appointed for a time I needed it most.

Here are 7 things I will miss most about Corpus Christi.

1. My church

As I was researching Corpus Christi, one of my first Google searches was “churches.” Almost immediately I came across a non-denominational church called Bay Area Fellowship. At the time, the sermon intro video/music was a spot that serenaded, “A New Life Starts Today.” And that was precisely the season I was entering! I was intrigued by the pastor, Bil Cornelius, and the fact that one Easter Sunday, he gave away like 10 new cars or something and people flocked to the church in droves to see if they could win. Or the time he EMPTIED the church bank account, and gave each person in the Sunday services a $100 bill with instructions to return the following Sunday with it multiplied. Conventional? NO! Intriguing? ABSOLUTELY!!! No disrespect to any of my former churches, but I was ready for unconventional…for a go big or go home, all in, risk taking church. And that’s EXACTLY what I found at Bay Area Fellowship (name later changed to Church Unlimited). Pastor Bil has this amazing gift of speech where the Lord uses him to speak directly to your spirit and heart. I’ve never heard another pastor with this type of communication anointing! The church members welcomed and took me in immediately. I dove right into ministry and got as involved as my work schedule would allow. I used to say I would never be able to leave Corpus Christi because I loved my church and church family SO much. So here’s hoping Pastor Bil will decide to open a campus in north Louisiana!

2. My community

This one brings tears to my eyes. You know who you are. Corpus Christi gave me friendships that were PRECISELY the ones I needed for my season of healing. My life group was all women and a mixture of older and younger, single, married, divorced and widowed. And OHHHH do they know how to love. Need my house checked on while I travel? Done. Need a faithful, strong prayer warrior? Done. Need taking to or picked up from the airport? Done. Need essential oils when you’re sick? Done. No need ever went unmet. We spent countless hours around the table whether in our homes or at a restaurant. We traveled to Guatemala and formed a bond that can never be broken. We served our community, wiped tears and embraced the least of these. These are some of the most selfless girls I’ve ever met and I am beyond grateful the Lord allowed our paths to cross.

3. My neighborhood

I lived on the south side of town in a little community called The Lakes. You’ve probably figured out, I’m pretty picky when it comes to houses! Like I waited 22 months for my cottage, I rented in Corpus Christi for almost two years because I couldn’t find the perfect house. I had some of the same requirements: not too big, not too small, one story, safe neighborhood, mature trees (no new builds), tennis courts, and a place to walk. The Lakes offered all of this and more. And FINALLY one Sunday after church, I drove through The Lakes on my way home and FOUND IT. The sign had JUST been placed in the yard (and it wasn’t even listed on the MLS yet). I immediately called my realtor to see it and by Wednesday I had it under contract. Every time I’ve bought a house, I knew IMMEDIATELY after walking in the door that it was the one. This house was no different. My favorite part of my neighborhood was that 2 mile loop I walked every day I was home and circled my heart’s desires in prayer. And I watched the Lord grant grace and mercy by bringing those desires to fruition in His perfect timing.

4. The weather

Oh the weather! I remember the first December I was in Corpus Christi and it was sunny and 70 degrees and I was walking in shorts! I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Because I LOATHE to be cold, the climate in Corpus Christi was PERFECT! I mostly got rid of all my winter clothes, so THANK GOODNESS it’s not my year of NO NEW CLOTHES because I’m definitely going to have to shop for warm clothes this fall!

5. HEB

Don’t laugh. But it’s SO true. For those of you that don’t know HEB, it’s a major grocery store chain in Texas (especially south Texas). Their motto is “Here Everything’s Better” and that is NO JOKE. I could get fresh watermelon 365 days a year and it was ALWAYS as a sweet as a Hope melon on the 4th of July. Blackberries were often 88 cents a pint. And the prices were better than Walmart. In fact, I probably only went to Walmart 10 times or less the entire time I lived in Corpus Christi. Oh and, never mind the fact that they have an ON THE SPOT fresh tortilla bakery!!!

6. Breakfast tacos

It’s no coincidence that Texas Monthly named Corpus Christi as having the Best Tacos in Texas! I LOVED home office days when I would get up, have coffee/quiet time, run and then drive to get a breakfast taco (canceling out any calories I had just burned). But egg, bacon and jalapenos wrapped in a fresh, homemade tortilla just melts in my mouth like butter. So if anyone from Corpus Christi comes to see the cottage, don’t show up unless you bring me a breakfast taco!

7. The beach

Believe it or not, the 6 years I lived in Corpus Christi, I probably went to the beach less than 20 times. I know, it’s so terrible. But gosh, I loved it so when I was there. Corpus has a LOT of beach areas where you can go and be far away from other people and really soak in the ocean breeze and sand between your toes. The first summer after I moved to Texas, I spent a LOT of time at the beach. In just a few minutes’ drive, I could find priceless therapy via waves, sun and uninterrupted time with my Father.

I love Corpus Christi! It was incredibly hard to leave. I argued with the Lord when I audibly heard Him call me closer to home. I had SO many reasons to stay! However, ultimately it came down to obedience. It isn’t always easy, but the way of the Lord is ALWAYS the right way even when it’s uncomfortable and unwanted. A dear friend reminded me: “You never grow INSIDE your comfort zone.” And she’s right. The times in my life when I’ve experienced the greatest growth have been the times I’ve either been pushed or forced into situations that makes this Type A girl’s head spin! Yet the Lord’s provision never fails and His promises are ALWAYS true.

Has there been a time in your life when you had to leave a place that held your heart? Did you feel or hear the Lord prompt you? Were you obedient? Either way, I’d LOVE to hear about your experience and thoughts in the comments below.

]]>http://www.simplysara.com/2016/10/30/7-things-ill-miss-about-corpus-christi/feed/2918http://www.simplysara.com/2016/10/30/7-things-ill-miss-about-corpus-christi/I’ll Never Move Back to Louisiana (Part 2)http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/simplysara/JHWw/~3/pqlWeWYaHUQ/
http://www.simplysara.com/2016/10/16/ill-never-move-back-to-louisiana-part-2/#commentsSun, 16 Oct 2016 10:00:48 +0000http://www.simplysara.com/?p=894Honestly, in my entire life, I don’t think I’ve ever been as drawn to anything…much less a house that would capture my affection and undivided attention.

I KNEW the Lord was calling me home. Every time I visited my family, I soaked in the tall pine trees, azaleas and slower pace of life in north Louisiana. I could feel it drawing me in. I KNEW He wanted me near my family. Sure, I could just buy any old house and move as soon as my company gave me the OK. But, in all reality, I’m at a point in life where I don’t want to settle. For as long as I can remember I’ve been in love with old houses. I didn’t want a cookie cutter house. I wanted nostalgia, a big front porch, shiplap and character that oozes the south. I just wanted something cozy and simple. A house in a safe neighborhood with a small yard I could landscape to my heart’s content.

And when I saw this house, I knew it was EXACTLY what I was looking for.

Located on the edge of the historic district in Minden, La, it was EVERYTHING I had dreamed of and wanted. Safe neighborhood. Quaint community. Walkable amenities. Perfect size. Perfect yard. 30 minutes from my parents. 30 minutes from the airport. Kind faces and southern smiles. And… those downtown brick streets, y’all!!

From the looks of the house I could tell that it was likely vacant, so I set out to track down the owner.

First, I reached out to the president of the Minden Historic Residential District and she thought someone still lived in the house. YIKES! So a few days later, I went and knocked on the door. No answer. And I was even more certain the house was vacant.

The next steps were to find out WHO owned the house. And from a quick search of the property tax records, I found the name of the owner, at an “in care of” address in Tennessee. Next, I took to the web to find an email address for the owner or the “in care of” owner. And after an exhaustive search over a period of a few days, I found an email address on some obscure website and sent a quick note to inquire about the status of the home. No response. Either I didn’t have the right person OR the right email address. OR, worst case, they were ignoring me.

Next step was to send a letter, old-fashioned through snail mail.

On New Year’s Day 2015, two weeks after my initial email, a reply popped up in my inbox!

“My Mom still owns the house but is in an assisted living facility nearby. We are trying to figure out what to do with the contents….. If you are not in too big of a rush, I will contact you after we come up with a plan.”

My heart leaped! The son had just given me HOPE that the house I instantly fell in love with could *possibly* become mine. HOWEVER, I had NO IDEA it would take nearly 21 additional months to secure the home.

Of course, I told him I could be patient, but I was HOPING to secure the house sooner than later. Aren’t we always in a rush for the things we desire? January 1, 2015 was the beginning of “The Wait” and I had NO idea the twists and turns about to take place during this love story. (But isn’t that true of any love story?!)

I’m elated to tell you as of this past September, I was able to close on the home and it’s officially mine!

So the cat is out of the bag! The Lord drew my heart back to Louisiana and provided provision for a house my heart desired (because when we delight in Him, He provides the desires of our heart Psalm 37:4).

The house needs COMPLETE renovation. And when I say complete, I’m not exaggerating. The electrical is outdated. Some of the plumbing doesn’t work. The interior ceilings are falling in. The foundation is crumbling and rotten. And the underneath is eaten up with POWDERPOST BEETLES! (Oh, and there is a squirrel or raccoon that lives in the attic.)

Here’s a pic of the progress so far!! Isn’t she a beauty?!?

Here’s a sneak peak of my Simply Southern Cottage a few weeks after closing, when I was able to get all the brush removed and expose her true beauty!

On the outside chance any of you want to follow along during the renovation process, I’m launching a SECOND blog (Lord help me), social media channels and will be documenting the progress of the entire renovation! This is not going to be an easy project. I’m no stranger to renovation, but this will definitely be the most challenging project I’ve ever completed.

The 21 months I spent in contact with the family was an emotional roller coaster, but I watched the Lord give me tangible bits of hope all along “The Wait.” Even though there were lots of times I doubted, in the back of my mind, I just KNEW this house was going to work out. The Lord was closing EVERY. OTHER. DOOR. for housing. I have no idea why (and still don’t) I had to wait almost two years to secure this house, but if I know Him, I bet somewhere down the line He’ll be kind and allow me to trace His hand and SEE the WHY behind the wait. One of my favorite parts about getting older is looking back and seeing divine appointments where the Lord was setting me up for a need, want or desire I would have down the road. So I have NO doubt The Wait was also divinely orchestrated by Him.

Over on SimplySouthernCottage.com, in addition to taking you through the renovation process, I’ll parallel it with the restorative work the Lord has done in my life. SimplySara will still be my space to share my heart and lessons learned centered on grace, forgiveness, faith and hope. Simply Southern Cottage will focus on the renovation of the house.

I’ll start out by sharing the two year journey of the love story with the house and ALL the things that went into bringing it under my ownership. My faith grew and was stretched like never before in my life!

I would be honored and thrilled if you would hop over to SimplySouthernCottage.com and walk this new journey out with me. If I’m being honest, I’m VERY excited and VERY terrified. It’s been 15 years since I’ve lived in Louisiana. I’m not the same person I was 15 years ago. I’m not sure where I’ll go to church, who’ll I’ll commune with, where I’ll get my nails done, lol, but I KNOW that KNOW that I KNOW the Lord is all over this. And I can’t wait to see how this story unfolds!

P.S. Here’s some BONUS news for you!!!! Starting with the November/December issue of The Minute Magazine I will have my very own column!!! Ahhhhhhh, can you even believe that? How is this my life?! The Lord is SO faithful to redeem and His goodness abounds! Can’t wait to take you guys deeper in PRINT!

If there’s nothing else I’ve learned in life, I’ve learned never to say never. I’ve learned to LIVE and LISTEN and wait expectantly on the Lord. Never did I dream I’d “Come Home Louisiana.” It’s where my heart is, my people are and I cannot wait to see the glorious unfolding the Lord has in store.

Have there been times in your life when you’ve said “never will I ever?” What lessons did the Lord teach you through the process? I would love to hear your story in the comments below.

In 1995, when I graduated high school and went to college at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR, I was SO ready to get out of Louisiana. “I will NEVER move back here!” I exclaimed.

In 1998 I graduated college, moved back to Louisiana and began my first teaching job in Bossier Parish. (Man I loved those kids at Plain Dealing Elementary. I was a baby teacher and they molded and shaped me into who I am today.)

In 2001, I moved to Arkansas for a new teaching job and once again exclaimed, “I’ll NEVER move back to Louisiana.”

When my divorce was final in 2011, my parents BEGGED me to move home to Louisiana. But Corpus Christi was home and I LOVED it! I mean, Corpus is THE BEACH for cryin’ out loud! My church was like none I had ever been a part of! I found Jesus like never before in my life! The Lord blessed me with an amazing customer base. My life group was my closest friends. And I was heavily involved in USTA league tennis. It was obvious the Lord had placed me in Corpus for such a time as this. He KNEW exactly what and WHO I would need to heal from the greatest trial of my life.

Then something funny happened on February 23, 2014. There have been a handful of times in my life when I have CLEARLY and AUDIBLY heard the Lord speak to me. This was one of those times.

I was in Laredo for work that Sunday evening. For dinner, I met up with one of our authors and several customers at the Zaragoza Grill, a SUPER CUTE restaurant located inside the La Posada Hotel on the banks of the Rio Grande where Mexico lies just a stone’s throw away. We had THE best time! It was one of those moments where I was reflecting on how much I LOVED my job and how I could do it forever.

And in the VERY NEXT BREATH, the Lord spoke. He clearly said to me, “Sara, you CAN do this forever. But you aren’t going to have your family and parents forever. Yes, you love your customers and they love you, but think how much MORE your parents love you. How much MORE I love you.”

The Lord spoke, “…but think how much MORE your parents love you. How much MORE I love you.”

And with that brief exchange, I knew the Lord was nudging me to move home. “I’ll NEVER move back to Louisiana!” I said.

I argued and told him ALL the reasons it wasn’t possible. I lived in my territory. My job was fulfilling and I LOVED it! For the first time in my entire life, I was head over heels in love with my church. My circle of friends was one of the truest I had ever known. I bought a perfect little house right after my divorce was final. I loved playing tennis 2-3 times a week. I finally found a new groove and life was once again normal (after thinking it would NEVER be normal again).

Yet, He wouldn’t leave it be!! It kept coming and coming AND COMING to the forefront of my mind. I couldn’t wrestle this out on my own, so that following August I hired a life coach. This was going to be a MAJOR shift on all fronts and I needed an expert to help me walk it out.

As time passed on, ideas and dreams started to fall into place. I could see the Lord opening doors and placing opportunities in my path to make this happen. And every time I went home to visit my parents, I was falling more and more in love with Louisiana, with home.

This isn’t a change I could make overnight. It would take some serious strategic planning.

First and foremost, I knew I couldn’t keep my same territory and live in Louisiana. “But I LOVE my customers, LORD! SO MUCH!” And He would reply, “I know you do. And they love you. But family comes first.” And He would repeat this to me over and over during the course of the next two years.

So I was like, “Ok, God. I have to work. I LOVE my company and don’t want to leave. So you’re just going to have to work this out.”

And He did! After talking with my amazing manager and our VP of Sales, and sharing my heart, they graciously allowed me to change up my territory giving me additional flexibility of where I could live, as long as I was in close proximity to an airport. It would mean giving up 5 years of solid relationships in the I-35 corridor between Waco and Laredo and east to Corpus. This was the scariest part! But again the Lord assured me He would take care of me AND them. And He has!

The next bucket that needed to drop was housing. Since my parents are in north Louisiana, my sister in Little Rock and my brother in Forney, I began to slowly research where the BEST place would be for me to settle down and have maximum impact on those I love the most. So basically my search took me from Little Rock to Texarkana to Shreveport/Bossier, east to Tyler, and mayyyybe Dallas.

I fell in love with Jefferson, TX on a field trip in fourth grade. Oh to wake up amidst antebellum homes and quaint shoppes seemed SO ideal. But, so did the Roland area in west Little Rock, minutes from my sister’s house, and with expansive views of Pinnacle Mountain. I could envision afternoon bike rides and Saturday morning hikes up the mountain. But come to think of it, The Heights area of Little Rock greatly appealed to me too; a neighborhood FULL of vintage homes, restored to precision with walkable amenities at my fingertips. And you know, Tyler, TX seemed nice. There is an amazing church where I’m sure I could plug right in. And there’s even a historic district of homes where I could definitely see myself putting down roots. But how about Shreveport/Bossier? The Broadmoor and South Highlands neighborhoods are JUST what I’m looking for, are super close to the airport, and I already know the area.

So, what to choose, what to choose?

I spent HOURS driving around all of those areas (really all over south AR, east TX and northwest LA). I analyzed EVERY aspect of each community; everything from safety to amenities to churches to HIGH SPEED INTERNET, to proximity to the airport and proximity to my family, to my ability to truly build lasting relationships and serve.

And in December 2014, while driving around, I found it. I found THE HOUSE I knew the Lord wanted me to have. And thus began a nearly 22 month love affair and trying to “marry” a broken down cottage, built in 1926.

Love is a strange thing. There’s lots of ebbs and flows. You risk your heart being broken OR being swept into the greatest love story ever known. I knew this house would challenge and stretch my faith. Would I be willing to stick it out and take a risk? How do you convince a someone to sell their home when it’s not for sale?

Come back tomorrow to find out what happened! Would this house break my heart, usher in a new season, stretch my faith or all of the above?

Over the course of your life, have there been times where you’ve heard the Lord audibly speak to you? It’s an amazing experience. And when He does, you have no choice but to listen and ponder His words in your heart. If you have had such an experience, I’d love for you to share in the comments below. And be sure to come back tomorrow for part 2 to see how this story unfolds!

]]>http://www.simplysara.com/2016/10/15/ill-never-move-back-to-louisiana-part-1/feed/7892http://www.simplysara.com/2016/10/15/ill-never-move-back-to-louisiana-part-1/Why I Keep Going Back to Guatemalahttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/simplysara/JHWw/~3/S1fHpbiyYR8/
http://www.simplysara.com/2016/10/01/why-i-keep-going-back-to-guatemala/#commentsSat, 01 Oct 2016 10:00:46 +0000http://www.simplysara.com/?p=862Has the Lord ever called you to do something CRAZY? Like get on a plane to a foreign country with a group of strangers, not knowing what you’ll do or where you’ll stay once your feet hit the ground?! For this Type A, hyper-planning, uber-structured gal, this was a massive risk, and massively uncomfortable. And I did this very thing, early in 2013.

After readingWrecked by Jeff Goins and following him on Twitter (@jeffgoins), I saw a tweet come across about a Wrecked Vision Trip he was hosting in Guatemala. Even though the uncertainty of the trip frightened the bejesus out of me, I decided it was the PERFECT season of life to take a risk… and this became the first risk of many.

On that maiden trip back in 2013, I fell in love with a country and a people who desperately need the hope and love of Jesus.

On our first trip we…

visited communities and precious Treasures who reside around the perimeter of the Guatemala City dump. Every day ~12,000 of these sweet people scavenge the dump, searching for salvageable items to resell. Typically, they earn $2 a day. On a GOOD day, they earn $5. To do this, we had to walk through some of the filthiest garbage and inhale the vilest scent imaginable. Even after I got back to Texas, the stench remained on my clothes. Some of the homes we visited were basically 4 tin walls; other “nicer” homes were 4 cinderblock walls. Interestingly enough, Guatemalans take SO MUCH PRIDE in their homes and treated us like royalty as we stepped inside. Their hospitality is second to none!

Photo credit: Alene Snodgrass

loved on outcast children in a cerebral palsy ward who desperately desire to feel the loving touch and the kind, soothing voice of another human being.

rocked and loved malnourished babies and children. Sometimes mothers feed their babies coffee because either there is no milk or they lack the education for proper child nutrition.

went to a grandpa’s home and fell in love with old folks who have long been abandoned by their families. We played cards, fixed hair, painted fingernails, danced and simply sat with them and watched them chuckle with delight when we attempted to speak in Spanish. We laughed for days when the nurses brought around afternoon shots of tequila for all the residents to enjoy!

played and played and played some more with children living in an orphanage. Interestingly enough, they knew EXACTLY how to work an iPhone! They navigated mine looking for “juegos” and took lots of selfies.

Here’s a short video about that monumental first trip. (Don’t hate on my southern accent game, lol.)

In addition to the missions work, our lodging pushed me WAY out of my comfort zone. I knew we were staying in a hostel (note: my first time EVER to stay in a hostel), but I had NO idea what I was getting into. When we arrived the first evening, I remember being RELIEVED to see a sign that said FREE WIFI because SOCIAL MEDIA. But I was less than relieved when I entered my hostel bedroom. It was MAYYYYYBE 8 x 8 with 3 twin size beds and a door that didn’t close all the way (leaving us vulnerable to peeping Toms). I shared this room with 2 other girls. Our mattresses were basically a three inch piece of foam on top of a piece of plywood. There was NO air conditioner. We laughed for about 30 minutes straight at the utter shock of what we had gotten ourselves into. Looking back, I think the laughter was to cover the sheer panic of our reality.

And the bathroom…oh the bathroom…It was outside in a separate little area, a few steps away from our room. And EVERYONE at the hostel shared the bathroom, not just peeps on our team. (Oh and by the way, in Guatemala, you can’t flush toilet paper, so everyone’s TP goes in a basket by the toilet!) Our “hot” water was generated by an ELECTRICAL showerhead. (Did you see that?! ELECTRICITY… going to the SHOWERHEAD… to warm the water!) And we quickly learned of our impeding death should we touch the showerhead. So we mostly suffered through cold showers. I was NEVER so glad to get back to the states and take the HOTTEST. SHOWER. EVER!

It’s interesting because through our mission work and some crazy boarding conditions, I bonded with 20 other individuals and formed lifelong friendships. I think it’s pretty common for mission teams to travel, exchange contact information with promises to keep in touch, and then never speak to one another again. But our team was different. It was obviously God-ordained. Most of us are in regular contact, celebrating successes and grieving losses. We have supported each other’s additional mission trips, professional endeavors and enter into genuine intercession for one another.

Our team from Jeff Goins’ Wrecked Vision Trip to Guatemala

In a nutshell, this trip changed my life. I went back 6 months later and have been back to Guatemala every year since then. And something interesting has happened each time I’ve returned. All these little inconveniences (lack of comfortable bed, little to no hot water, no air conditioning, etc.) aren’t really inconvenient anymore. Now they are really no big deal. Isn’t it interesting how the Lord adapts and changes you when you are fulfilling His purposes and bringing glory to His name?

Clock tower in Antigua. Photo credit: Alene Snodgrass

This coming week, 7 of us will be returning to Guatemala. We can’t wait to get to the Potter’s House, wade through the filth and stench to visit the home we built for a family on our last trip. We can’t wait to be reunited with our sponsor children, seeing how much they’ve grown and matured and reminding them of the strong bond and love we have for them. And THIS trip, we are delving into a new ministry opportunity where we will work with teachers!! How cool is that?! I work with US educators every day and am BEYOND excited to share my knowledge and expertise with educators in Guatemala.

When I returned from my first trip, a friend asked me (in all sincerity) why I went to Guatemala when there was SO much work to be done here in the states. My answer was simple. When God calls you, you have to go. Whether it’s Appalachia, inner city LA, Guatemala or the ends of the earth. Even though I consciously CHOSE to take a risk and go to Guatemala, the Lord clearly laid it on my heart, divinely orchestrating the circumstances (leading up to my reading of Wrecked) and made a way for me to go. It was an undeniable still small voice calling me to obedience. And I said YES! Guatemala holds my heart. My girl is there. I have precious friends there. And the Lord is mightily at work!

Would you please pray for my team and me this week? Specifically, I will be speaking to a group of teachers who are weary from just finishing out the school year. (Summer vacation begins in October in Guatemala.) Please pray for our safety and also for the Lord to use us mightily for His Kingdom.

Have you taken a short term missions trip? Where did you go? I’d love to learn more about your experience(s) and places that hold a special place in your heart. Please share in the comments below.

For my entire life, I’ve been athletic. My mom had a tennis racquet in my hand as soon as I was big enough to hold it without toppling over.

And for the last 15 years or so, in addition, to playing tennis, I’ve walked 2 miles every day, usually first thing in the morning, just as the sun peeks over the horizon. (If I had my way, I’d be outside all day, every day! I can’t get enough of the outdoors!)

And in those last 15 years, more than once, I’ve tried running. And it NEVER worked out for me. Almost immediately I would get these excruciatingly painful side stitches and could not run another step.

But then, in California this past July, I gave running ANOTHER whirl (just for kicks). And the weirdest thing happened. I didn’t get side stitches! I ran, and I could run sorta far!

Our company meetings usually start around 8 am, which means if I’m going to get outside, I need to go about 5:00 am in order to get back, shower and get ready in time.

And we just so happen to stay at the beach for these meetings, so outside means “along the beach.” And if you’ve never experienced a California beach at 5 am, you HAVE TO DO IT. *swoon* There was one morning the moon was set just on top of the water and it was truly one of the most amazing sites I’ve ever seen! Light sprinkled across the waves. The air was cool (as early fall is in the south) and a sense of peace consumed me.

As I ran, I thought, “This MUST be a fluke!” But the next morning, and every morning after that in California, I got up and did a walk/run. Walk a little, jog little. I was seriously amazed at both my stamina and the fact that side stitches were nowhere to be found.

“I bet when I get back to Texas and try this in the heat and humidity, I’ll get side stitches.” NOPE! Didn’t happen. Once I got home, I tried again and NO PAIN. What the what?

Over the last few years, I’ve followed along as many of you completed the Couch to 5K training program. I knew if I was seriously going to do this, I would need to train appropriately. So I downloaded the C25K app (free) and began my journey to running a full 5K.

C25K is a training program that gradually increases in difficulty while adequately training you to run a 5K in only 8 short weeks. I didn’t tell y’all I was doing this, because I really had no intention of completing it… I figured I would give it whirl and quit as the intensity increased.

I began C2K on August 20th. There are 3 training sessions per week. I ran a 5K for the first time EVER on Sept 21st. Meaning I completed the program in only 4 weeks. I ran 6 days per week (completing 2 “training” weeks in 1).

Completed C25K! Note the Huntington Beach pier in the background. Full circle.

Week one was pretty easy. Alternating 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 30 minutes (includes a 5 minute warmup and cooldown).

Week two was a tad harder, but I still managed fairly well. After a 5 minute warmup, you jog for 90 seconds and walk for 2 minutes for a total of 20 minutes.

Week three began and I was required to jog for a full 3 minutes in between walking segments, repeated for 28 total minutes. This is where the program began to get a little challenging for me. Even though I didn’t get side stitches, my stamina waned especially toward the end of the workout. But I fulfilled it each time.

Week 4 started and proved to be the hardest yet. Jogging for a full 5 minutes rotated with sets of walking for 31 minutes total. YIKES! “There’s NO way!” I said to myself. Yet, interestingly enough I completed it.

Weeks 5 through 8 followed the same pattern gradually increasing in intensity. The last set of week 5 is running for 2 entire miles. NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY I can do this….. But I did! And I did it in south Texas in the heat and humidity! As soon as I got in, I texted all my runner friends in celebration! I could not believe it!

Week 6…2.25 miles…DONE (Up to this point I had been running in regular tennis shoes. But since it appeared I was getting serious about this, I got a pair of REAL running shoes; Brooks to be exact. And it made a WORLD of difference. So make sure you have REAL running shoes.)

New Stars and Stripes Brooksies

Week 7…2.5 miles…DONE

Week 8… 2.75 miles…DONE

And finally…an entire 5K! And it truly came full circle… I started this journey along the Pacific Coastline in Huntington Beach, CA and I ran my first unofficial 5K along the same path. My heart leaped as the completion timer (on the C25K app) went off. It was an amazing accomplishment and I celebrated the success!

Here a couple of key takeaways from this journey:

When the going got tough and the intensity increased, I didn’t give up. I pushed through each time. I never missed a workout nor did I fail to complete a task.

It was crucial I keep my eyes forward. If I looked down at the path in front of me, I would quickly become dizzy and feel slightly nauseous (especially in the heat and humidity).

It’s been said it takes anywhere from 21 to 66 days to form a new habit. Rubbish. If you set your mind and are determined to accomplish a goal, the habit follows, becomes enjoyable and you look forward to completing the task daily. Thus you can immediately form a new habit.

I was surprised at how quickly I acclimated once I trained correctly.

Hmmm, seems like a lot of these takeaways can apply in life too. Yes?

So what’s next? My dad is 70 and runs about 3 miles plus stairs every day! He and I are signed up for a 5K Glow Run in November. It will be my first official race! Hopefully I won’t finish last and/or embarrass myself with my time.

I’d like to get fully comfortable with a 5K and then possibly move onto a 10K and MAYYYYYBE a half or full marathon. I’d eventually love to do the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim hike and to complete it successfully, it’s recommended you be able to run 30 miles! THIRTY! WHOA! So I’ve got a long way to go, but I’ve started, experienced success and am looking forward to what’s to come! (And as soon as I press SEND on this post, I’m out for a run along the beach! )

What about you guys? Have you completed C25K or other running/athletic goals? I’d LOVE to hear your story. What kept you going? What do you have your sights set on? Please share in the comments below. (And if anyone can share why I suddenly STOPPED getting side stitches, I’d LOVE to hear from you! I have NO explanation.)

]]>http://www.simplysara.com/2016/09/24/my-journey-from-couch-to-5k/feed/8838http://www.simplysara.com/2016/09/24/my-journey-from-couch-to-5k/A Review of Cindy Beall’s New Book: Rebuilding A Marriage Better Than Newhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/simplysara/JHWw/~3/zjYbw1Kf7aY/
http://www.simplysara.com/2016/09/17/a-review-of-cindy-bealls-new-book-rebuilding-a-marriage-better-than-new/#commentsSat, 17 Sep 2016 10:00:48 +0000http://www.simplysara.com/?p=826When my world fell apart, I was HUNGRY for ANY resources to help me cope. I had NO point of reference to deal with the extreme hurt and betrayal following infidelity. I was blowing through marriage books as fast as I could. One Saturday night at church, my pastor told us about a new book by Cindy Beall that just released, Healing Your Marriage When Trust Is Broken, and shared a bit about her story. And HER story was MY story. I couldn’t get out of church fast enough to get to Mardel’s to pick up a copy. And I think I read it in just a few hours. FINALLY someone who knew EXACTLY the road I was walking, who didn’t sugarcoat it and offered practical suggestions to heal.

This past August Cindy released a 2nd book, Rebuilding A Marriage Better Than New, and I was THRILLED to serve on the launch team and to receive a pre-release copy. Even though I don’t have a marriage to rebuild, I value Cindy’s insight and share it with others as much as possible. It seems like on almost a weekly basis I get messages about a marriage that’s hurting or broken, and Cindy’s books are always the first reads I suggest.

If your marriage is hurting OR if you minister to couples with hurting marriages, here are three reasons you need to read Rebuilding A Marriage Better Than New (RAMBTN) as soon as possible.

1. Cindy’s marriage is healed and thriving!

What better person to take advice from? Cindy and Chris have BOTH put in HOURS of hard work to restore the broken places in their marriage. Throughout RAMBTN, Cindy shares anecdotes spanning the entire course of their marriage; the times leading up to her husband’s infidelity and the times after. She is an open book and shares the real and raw emotions she experienced. She addresses how to handle triggers, trust and expectations. For me these were the hardest things to overcome. Cindy provides biblical basis and reasoning for how you can become more than a conqueror and defeat these stumbling blocks so your marriage, too, can be healed and thrive.

2. Cindy counterbalances LIES with TRUTH.

This is, perhaps, one of my favorite parts of the book. As if the situation you are walking through isn’t bad enough, Satan digs the knife in DEEP and feeds you lie after lie. Lies that will keep your marriage from being healed and hold you hostage. Cindy addressed one particular lie I was fed over and over.

LIE: What if all this work I do for my marriage doesn’t pay off?

TRUTH: Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but I trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7

I put TWO LONG YEARS into restoration yet my marriage wasn’t saved. It was a risk for sure, but I definitely knew my steps were ordained by the Lord. Some people might say, “Well it didn’t pay off for you.” Ohhhhh contraire my dears! At the time I would have agreed with you, but because I put my trust in the Lord, He has redeemed my story a 1000 times over and I am happier now than ever before in my entire life!

Cindy addresses ALL of the lies Satan will feed you during a martial crisis. AND she provides the precise scripture to rebuke those lies along with real life scenarios PROVING His Word is true.

3. Cindy provides you with a step by step guide on what it takes to rebuild your marriage better than new.

I can honestly say Cindy was ordained by God to write this book. I hate so badly she was required to walk through immense heartache and trial, but God is using her and Chris in a mighty way. EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER in this book addresses an issue a couple in martial crisis will face. From expectation management, to doing the hard things, to living as a victim or victor, Cindy shares biblical truths for overcoming these obstacles and real life applications either within her own story or the story of others. Cindy will lead you down the path to restoration providing practical advice to move your relationship beyond the hurt and onward to healing.

In closing, here are a few of my favorite quotes from RAMBTN:

“The key to happiness is expectation management.”

“I truly believe forgiveness brings freedom. Show me a miserable person, and I will show you someone who is bitter and who has chosen not to forgive. “ (SO MUCH YES ON THIS ONE!!!!!)

“If God showed us a timeline of all the occurrences that would happen in our lives, we would most assuredly start hyperventilating and bargaining with him to reroute the path ahead of us. In no way, shape, or form would we ever think we could survive such difficult circumstances. Death of a loved one, infidelity by a spouse, the loss of every material possession we own. It’s more than our finite minds can even begin to fathom. And because of that, He doesn’t show us. Instead, He gives us the grace we need to get through things as they come.”

I beg you. If you marriage is hurting, please run get a copy of BOTH of Cindy’s books right now. Read them as quickly as possible and immediately begin to put actions into place to save your marriage. Cindy will give you the road map necessary to once again have a healthy and thriving marriage.

If you’ve read Cindy’s books, would you add anything to this post? I would love to hear your redemption story, whether it looks like mine OR your marriage was saved. Please share in the comments below.

As I travel down the road of simplifying, I am constantly looking for ways to make things easier and more streamlined. Ways to GAIN valuable minutes and even hours back into my day. Minutes and hours that can be spent doing things I WANT and LOVE to do rather than mundane tasks I HAVE to do. Here are 5 easy things I’ve done (and YOU can too) to add a little margin back into your day.

1. Reduce the amount of email you receive.

Remember that time ONE time back in 2013, when you bought that random gadget from Harry’s House of Gadgets? And now, it seems like you get an email from Harry EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. wanting you to purchase his latest and greatest gadget? I sat down a few months ago for about an hour and unsubscribed from ALL emails from Harry’s House of Gadgets as well as the 100’s of other promotional emails I no longer care to receive. Now the emails in my inbox are ones I truly WANT to receive and I no longer have to filter through a ton of advertisements or unwanted messages. This saves me literally 30 minutes a day I don’t have to spend weeding through and deleting emails. It takes time up front, but oh how I love a simplified and streamlined inbox!

2. Clean out that closet!

This is one I’ve mentioned before. (Be sure to check out how I survived an entire year without purchasing new clothes.) If I’m being honest, this is truly an ongoing process for me. My general rule of thumb is if I haven’t worn it in two years, it’s donated. Trust me, I love choices as much as the next person, but LESS choices equal MORE time and MORE simplicity. Do you spend precious minutes staring into your closet trying to decide what to wear each day, and yet you always defer back to the same outfits? I’m definitely guilty of this and by simplifying your closet, your choices become easier and valuable minutes are gained.

3. Downsize your library.

This was a hard one for me. I. LOVE. BOOKS. And I’ve loved books for my entire life, so I have a HUGE library that takes up a LOT of room. AND I still have books in boxes from my last move! So recently, I took time and went through every book in my library and ended up donating probably 100+ to Goodwill. I figure if I ever want to read a particular book again, I can always download or repurchase it. Less books = less space = less time to clean = more simplicity.

4. Get ready for your day the night before.

This is a SUPER easy trick I’ve actually been doing for years. Life is SO much easier when your morning routine goes smoothly and you aren’t rushing around tying up last minute loose ends.

Every night before bed, I:

get the coffee pot ready because PRIORITIES.

lay out and iron all my clothes.

pack my ‘roly’ and have it ready to roll out the door.

Depending on what my day looks like, pack snacks, lunch, etc., so it’s ready for me to just grab and walk out the door.

5. Set your monthly bills to direct draft.

This was a game changer for me when I set this up a few years ago. I remember back in ye olden days when I would spend hours on a Saturday morning, writing checks, addressing and stamping envelopes, recording in my checkbook register then heading out to mail off all the bills. What a waste of time! Now everything is drafted either directly from my checking account or my credit card virtually cutting down my once a month, Saturday morning bill paying time to 30 minutes or less. I basically just have to record the drafts and make sure all were paid correctly. And VOILA! I just got hours back on my Saturday morning.

Of course there are hundreds of other things you can do to simplify, but these are 5 easy things you can begin to do right now! You will be surprised how quickly you will add time back into your day! What else do you do or could you do to simplify? I’d love for you to share in the comments below. I’m always up for learning new time saving and simplifying tricks!

]]>http://www.simplysara.com/2016/09/03/5-easy-ways-to-simplify-your-life-right-now/feed/6811http://www.simplysara.com/2016/09/03/5-easy-ways-to-simplify-your-life-right-now/Six Word Memoirs: A Guest Post by Alece Ronzinohttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/simplysara/JHWw/~3/pAaJfedf6MI/
http://www.simplysara.com/2016/08/27/six-word-memoirs-a-guest-post-by-alece-ronzino/#respondSat, 27 Aug 2016 10:00:59 +0000http://www.simplysara.com/?p=790One of my favorite bloggers and internet friends is Alece Ronzino (www.gritandglory.com). Every time she posts I find myself saying, “She. Is. Me!” Alece and I have journeyed a similar path. I LOVE the way she walks out her story with much vulnerability and humility. We also find ourselves in a similar life stage: around the same age, not married and neither one of us have kids. Alece led a non-profit in Africa for 13 years and is the founder of One Word 365. She is also living out one of my real estate goals as an AirBnB host and also owns the Nashville Tiny House. (Hint: If you find yourself in Nashville, needing a place to crash, she has options for you!)

Alece’s post from this week spoke directly to my heart and I know it will speak to yours too! She graciously allowed me to repost on SimplySara. Enjoy!

There was a LONG season in my life where I kept up with the Joneses and ended up squandering away MANY years. As I’ve gotten older, I’m working on soaking in every minute and realize the importance of simply being. While there are definitely still struggles with busyness, preoccupation, and admittedly comparison, I do have a strong desire to just BE, brushing aside worry, fear and doubt.

Jonathan Fields was our opening keynote speaker last weekend at the World Domination Summit in Portland, OR. If you don’t know Jonathan, GET to know him. From our weekend workbook: “Jonathan is on a quest to inspire possibility. He founded mission-driven media and education venture, Good Life Project, where he and his team lead a global community in the quest to live more meaningful, connected and vital lives. His next book, How to Live a Good Life: Soulful Stories, Surprising Science and Practical Wisdom, is due out in October 2016.”

Jonathan’s message at WDS is one we ALL need hear. He focused on 5 BE’s: consistent ways people can truly LIVE as they walk through life. He strongly emphasized a GOOD life is CREATED not awaited and that we MUST combat busyness. He stated, “Busyness is a symptom, not a badge of honor. Don’t let other people set priorities for you.” (And that punched me right in the gut.)

Here are Jonathan’s 5 BE’s for living a good life:

1. Be Intentional

Jonathan emphasized that we MUST choose OR we lose. Personally, I don’t want to be on the losing side of this coin. As I approach 40, I am MUCH more intentional about the choices and decisions I make. In the words of Lysa Terkeurst, I want my YES to be my BEST YES. And to do that, it’s imperative my choices reflect intentional decisions to help me live my best life yet and inch me closer to my goals and dreams.

2. Be Open

Oh goodness, for FAR too long, I lived in such a narrow, legalistic frame of mind. Jonathan told us that “fortune favors the open” and honestly, I can definitely attest to this in my own life. For example, in my 20s, I NEVER would have gotten on a plane with a bunch of strangers to head to a foreign country without knowing the plan of action once my feet hit the ground. But because I was open and sought out a greater purpose beyond my own space, the Lord has rained down blessing after blessing tied directly to that first trip to Guatemala. Be open to new adventures, opportunities and cultures. You may be surprised what you learn about yourself and others in the process.

3. Be Kind.

“Givers win. Givers grow.” Kindness was a recurring theme throughout WDS. And doesn’t it just make perfect sense? I’ve come to the conclusion there is FAR more kindness in our world than what the media would have us believe. It seems everyday I hear stories of random acts of kindness, and sometimes these acts are LIFE CHANGING! What’s stopping you from smiling at the stranger you pass on the street? Or picking up that piece of trash that isn’t yours? Or how about just showing others grace and mercy? We all make mistakes for crying out loud. Choose kindness. Your life will be enriched and you just might bless others in the process.

4. Be You.

“How can one person be so unapologetically joyful? Before you can be unapologetically joyful, you have to be unapologetically you.” I definitely fall trap to this more times than I care to admit and social media royally exacerbates comparison, but you have to LOVE THE SKIN YOU’RE IN. We ALL have things we don’t like about ourselves. But don’t be so hard on you! You are fearfully and wonderfully made and there is only ONE of you! Relish in your uniqueness. Own every piece of who you are.

5. Be Still.

Hmmmm….seems like I just wrote a post on this. Since my major whirlwind, I’ve come to greatly value still and quiet. It’s rare in our world today, yes? Jonathan said that we can’t be ANY of the above until we can be still. “It’s in the stillness that we cultivate awareness.” It’s easy to be consumed with our daily hustle and not set aside time for quiet. For me, I’m like an old lady… I have my “sittin’” time every morning, getting up anywhere between 30-60 mins. before I have to start getting ready. It’s precious time I spend in communion with my Father along with a good cup of coffee. It gets my day started on a peaceful, calm note. You should try it! Where ever you can, find time for stillness, for reflection and peace.

I’ve followed Jonathan for years now and love his message of possibility, which in essence, is the underlying theme of the World Domination Summit. I’ll leave you with Jonathan’s Living Creed from his website www.thegoodlifeproject.com. These are the key to a good life. <3

This is one of those posts where I’m preachin’ to the choir. Like ALL day. Is there anything you would add to this list? How do you “BE” in your every day life? I’d love for you to share in the comments below.